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Post by NewQuakermommy on Aug 27, 2015 21:32:45 GMT -5
We picked up Jazz, our 9 week old Quaker Parrot 2 days ago. He's very sweet, but doesn't 'appear' as tame as I had believed he'd be. I realize he's in a brand new environment with new smells, sounds etc. but I had thought he'd be more cuddly. Don't get me wrong..I'm not giving up! I am just somewhat concerned that now (after reading oodles and oodles and even more oodles of information) maybe he wasn't weaned properly. The breeder told me he was handfed and fully weaned. He lets me pick him up...but doesn't want to sit still which is fine. He has no interest in 'step up' and scrambles away. I was told he was on the Zupreem Tropical diet for Cockatiels mixed with a Parrot seed mix. So that's what I bought. He doesn't seem interested in the food very much. Well, maybe just not as much as I'd like. He loves the sunflower seeds, and of course apple pieces we give him. But I'm worried he's just not eating quite enough. How much (approximately even) 'should' he be given in his food bowl each day? Maybe I'm putting too much in? I've read about checking the crop, and so I just went and checked it now. It doesn't feel soft ...in fact it feels somewhat hard. Not bone hard..but not squishy soft like I expected.
Sigh, I'm a nurse...a human nurse..and feel very confident with my human patients! I'd love some advice for my sweet Jazz if any of you might have some for me. Maybe I'm over reacting, but I'm bringing him to the vet tomorrow to make sure all is well.
Thanks in advance for any responses!
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Post by easttex on Aug 28, 2015 5:26:59 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum to you and Jazz!  Early days with a bird are filled with anxiety and you're doing the best thing you can under the circumstances. You'll get good advice from your avian vet. I'm not sure what the Tropical Diet is. Is that a pellet? If not, you'll want to introduce pellets as a much healthier alternative to seed blends. You can try soaking the pellets in water or unsweetened fruit juice to make them more appealing, especially for a recently weaned bird who might like the softness. Some weaning birds like to eat from a spoon, so you could try offering softened pellets that way. (That can also help with the bonding process.) The best diet for them is pellets with fresh veggies and a little bit of fruit. An occasional treat is okay. You'll want to watch the seeds, particularly the sunflower, as fatty liver disease is common in quakers. I give mine a bit of bird bread and some Higgins cooked food every day, too. You can share your own healthy food with him, but no avocado, chocolate or caffeine. I wouldn't worry about offering too much food at this point. Later on, you may want to introduce him to foraging, but for now you just want to find something he will eat. It can be hard to tell how much they are actually taking in, so it's best to watch the poops. Your vet can help you with that. Good luck! Please update after your vet visit. |
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Post by cnyguy on Aug 28, 2015 19:53:25 GMT -5
Welcome to you and Jazz! It takes time for a parrot to adjust to a new home-- it can take weeks or even months sometimes. Be patient with Jazz and let him set the pace. Sit by his cage and talk softly to him-- read to him, and sing to him too, if you'd like. That's one of the best ways to help a parrot get used to a new human companion and new surroundings. Let Jazz decide for himself when he wants to come out of his cage. Leave the door open when you're ready to invite him out, and he'll come out when he feels ready to. Providing a hanging perch on the outside of the cage, just below the door, is a good idea. It gives the parrot a safe place to perch and to survey his surroundings before venturing farther from the security of his cage. It's not unusual for a parrot to eat and drink little during the first few days in a new home. The suggestion that easttex made about softening the pellets is a good one. It often works well with parrots unused to eating pellets or reluctant to try them. My QP Ralph likes the softened pellets so much he still gets some every day, along with the dry ones. The vet visit is a good idea-- it's always recommended to schedule a vet visit soon after bringing a new parrot home, just to make sure that all is well. |
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Post by julianna on Aug 29, 2015 13:57:33 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum and what has been said above this post is excellent advice. Patience is a virtue.
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Post by aaron on Aug 30, 2015 13:01:23 GMT -5
Welcome to you and Jazz! The others have given you good advice here. As noted by the others, you'll definitely want to get Jazz switched over to eating pellets at some point. Personally, I feel like sunflower seeds actually cause behavioral problems in our Quaker, but that probably isn't the case for all birds. In time he should become more comfortable with his environment, at any rate. The vet visit is a good idea-- there probably isn't anything wrong but better safe than sorry is always the name of the game with these little ones. On that note, getting in the habit of watching their droppings for changes is a very good thing to do.
Good luck, and let us know how things go at the vet!
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